Swab and unloader



Feb. 17, 1931. s. v. DILLON SWAB AND UNLOADER Filed March '8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g vuewioc 6. V Dillon,

Feb. 17, 1931.

s. v. DILLON SWAB AND UNLOADER Filed March a, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiwys Q.

elevation of the swab.

Patented Feb. 17, 1931: i I: y a i e v m i we 1 me}:

seer-HEN v. DILLON, OFTULSA, OKL HOMA swAiB ANDUNLOADER p Application iilea'jiualrh s, 1929. seiia'r'nb. 345,464. p This invention relates to improvements in proved unloader especially adapted for use swabs for use with oil wells or the llke, and -with swabs'and 'desi'gned to release-the fluid more particularly toa novel swab designed pressure from the swab during ascent, in case to automatically space ltself from the lnner such pressure reaches a point where it might mg and to aut'oniatically expand in ascendthe swab down to the point where it "would ing to provide snug engagement between the break away from the hoisting cable or the swab and the tubing or casing while the swab I like. is being raised. I .Heretciore, thcunloaders used with swabs 19 One of the objects of the invention is to or the like have permitted leakage of the furnish a swab including an elastic ball-like fluid past the valve of the same, and I have packing member or members mounted on a designed my improved unloader to eliminate tubular stem through which a part of the this Objection. This is primarily brought well fluid passes while theswab is descendabout by the use of flexible cups-or packing l5 ing;theinterior'ofthe ball-like packing menirings on a hollow piston which forms the 7 her or-members communicating with the passeat for the unloader valve. The use of such sageway throughth'e stem so that the pressure cups permits tight j oints, even though sand of the well'fluid will be radially exerted hn or the like should penetrate betweenth'e unthe packing'memberor members during the loaderpiston and its guide surface.

Another object is tofurnish a'swab of this including a valve having a stem provided character in which one end portion of each with an adjustable abutment or-nut designed packing member is gradually tapered toto engagea fixed surface for the purpose of" wards its edge to increase its flexibility and releasing or unloading at predetermined permit thepacki-ng member to readilymove pressures. p toward the axis of thetubular stem when the A further object is toifurnish an unloa'der, swab is in the act of descending. V p, including spring means for normally hold A further object is to provide a swab in ing the unloader piston at a predetermined whicha ball-like packing' member is comelevation; the construction beingsuch that W bined with a movable cap which cooperates the swab will continue'operativeeventhough V with the packing member to limit the exparrsaid spring means breaks and thereby desionv of tll l n h f y'prevelltff pstroys the function of the unloader. turing of the same, due to unevenness in tub-I V Wth the foregoing objects outlined and I ing or casing joints or in the pipe itself durwith other objects in view whichwill appear 35 ing the ascent of the swab. as the description proceeds, the invention Another object is to furnish {novel pib- I consists in the novel featureshereinafter det ti 's for the lower portion of th scribed in detail, illustrated in the accombau-like Packing m e f 9 hei b said panying drawings, ancbmore particularly protecting means mp e Tlgld leaves pointed out in the appended claims.

e9 hingedly connected to theswab stemiby spe- Referringto e drawin-gs r 7 clali-lomts 9 P h i s Fi 1 is an elevation of mv improved swab able member WhIChffllIlCtIOllS to llmit thgjeE 0150- M16 inloader v I ward movement 0 the upper ends 0' t e T 1 protecting leaves. Thesp'ecialjoints connect- 2 1S a le'lu'cgl lolllgliudmgl seotmiml Q5 ing the protecting leaves to the swab stein i f ag 0 t 1 allows the leaf cage and the leaves to be g' 3 mnsvdse i m readily assembled or dismantled when the w on o g- 2- 1 cage and leaves are detached from the swab F hi 3 are lg g 2 33 t i p V f l respec We y 011" he Ines 50 Astill further object isto provide an i'nn 7-57 of F 1g. 2. V i r surface of the tubing or casing while descend breaker damage the swab parts, or weigh 55 Another object-is to furnish .an unloaderf Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the protecting leaves.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the protecting leaves cage.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 10-1O of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, indicates a swab stem which may have a conventional threaded pin 16 at its upper end. The stem is provided with a longitudinal passageway 17, through which well fluid may flow on the descent of the swab. This fluid will flow in through an inlet 18, provided in a plug 19 at the lower end of the swab, and will be discharged through ports 20 at the upper end of the passageway.

A ball-like packing member 21 of rubber or the like, has its lower, preferably thickened, end secured to the stem by any suitable means. For this purpose, I may, for example, ar 'ange a shoulder 22 on the exterior of the stem, and the annular edge 23 of the packing member may be held in tight engagement with said shoulder by means of a spacing collar 24. In this way, the lower end of the packing member is prevented from shifting along the stem.

I prefer to make the packing member of annular united walls, which are straight lengthwise of the stern, and these walls are arranged at angles to one another, so that the cylindrical one 25, during the ascent of the swab, will have a large surface in contact with the inner surface of the tubing or casing, but no contact during descent.

An integral bead 26 is provided on t 1e e2;- terior of the packing member near its upper end, and this bead engages the inner surface of the skirt of an annular cap 27, which may be made of any suitaole material, such metal, and may slide up and down on the stem. Its upward movement is limited by a shoulder 28, arranged on the stem.

In order that the packing member may readily flex to permit well fluid to pass between the same and the inner surface of the tubing or casing on descent, and to facilitate the passage of the swab past joints or rough places in the pipe, its upper edge portion is preferably gradually ta ered toward its er;- tremity, as shown at 29, and the tapered part preferably extends from the bead .26, to the extreme edge 80 of the packing member. At this poin it might be noted that the tapere edge 29 may readily move within the inverted cap 2'5, and that the latter protects the packing member on ascent, and prevents too grea expansion, of the upper end portion of the same during descent.

The lower portion of the packing member is also protected in my improved swab, and to this end, rigid leaves 31, of metal or the like, embrace the lower portion of the packing member. These leaves are preferably spaced relatively to one another, and they are supported and interlocked with a cage T his cage includes a horizontal annular bottom 33 which is held by a spacing sleeve 3a against the lower end of the collar 24; and a cylindrical wall 35 rises from said bottom and terminates at its upper end in an inwardly extending bead or ledge 36, provided with spaced notches 37. .Vhen the cage is off the swab stem, the protecting leaves 31 are assembled with the cage, and to permit this, the lower portion of each leaf is provided with opposite notches 38 which extend toward a neck 39 that joins the upper and lower portionsof the leaf and is adapted to enter one of the notches 37 of the cage. Due to this construction, it may be seen that the lower part lO of each leaf will occupy the cage and the joint provided by the neck 39 and the notch 87 forms in effect a hinge connection which will permit the upper end portion of the leaf to move toward or away from the axis of the stem. Each leaf should be of substantially triangular form, with the base of the triangle uppermost, to provide. a relatively large bearing surface for the exterior of the packing member 25. a

After the cage with the protecting leaves assembled thereon is placed on the stem, the inner ends of the notches 37 of the cage will s substantially closed by the spacing collar ,4, and this will prevent the leaves from accidentally detaching themselves from the cage.

A vertically adjustable collar ll has threaded engagement with the vertical wall of the cage, and the outer surfaces ofthe protecting leaves bear against the upper ed of the adjustable collar, and this allows tic upper ends of the leaves to be pressed inwardly if desired. Of course, if the adjustable collaris eliminated, the leaves will simply bear against the upper edge of the wall of the cage. I

. It will be manifest to those skilled in the art that in many instances, a single unit com-- posed of the packing member 521, cap 27, protecting leaves 31 and cage 32, may be em ployed as part of a swab, but I prefer to use two or more units for this purpose. In such cases, the spacing sleeve 34 may be provided with a stationary shoulder l3 to limitthe upward movement of the cap 27a of a second unit, and the remainder of that unit may be substantially the same as the unit previously described. The parts may be held in assembled relation by means of a threaded nut ll which will engage with the threaded lower end of the stem.

As heretofore mentioned, the swab may be combined with my improved unloader, and in such a case, a threaded sleere 14a may serve as the housing or casing, of the unloader. This sleeve forms a cylinder in which a hollow piston may vertically reciprocate, and this piston is preferably provided with one or morecup washers '46 of leather, rub' her or any other suitable flexible material. These packing rm-gs will prevent any leakage of the well fluid from 'thepassageway 17,, between the piston and its cylinder 44d, and will maintain a tight joint, even though send its way in between or the likeshould work the piston and its barrel.

A coiled spring 47 -restson-the -tl'1readed plug 19-,and normally "support'sthe hollow piston, and a valve 48 normally seats on the hollow piston during ascentjand prevents any passageof fluid through the passageway '49 of the piston. The valve-"is preferably provided with a f stem 50, which extends downwardly through the hollow piston and the plug 19, and. this stem is threaded 'for a portion of its lengthin order to adjustably mount the nut 51 on the same. The upward movement of the'valve 48 is limited by a pin 51a which extends across the passageway17.

5 In the operation of the unloader, assuming that the swab is ascending and the pressure of the well fluid in the passageway 17 be comes ,sutlicient to depress the piston '45 a certain distance, then the nut'el willabut against thejplug19 and stops, and as the-piston continues to descend, the valve seat on the piston will moveaway from the valve48, sothat the liquid from the passageway 1'? will be released. In such release, the liquid will flow downwardly through the-ports 49 and 18. 7 Of course, by adjusting the nut 51, the

valve may be caused to open under predeter mined pressure, and thus prevent I damage to the swab, or breaking oftheswab away from its hoisting cable or the like It may be mentioned at this point that the cup washers 46 or the like, provide self-adjusting means for sealing the joint between the piston and its cylinder, and the greater the pressure of the fluid outwardly on these washers, the tighter will be the joints.

In order to permit the swab to continue to function, even in case the spring 47 should break, I prefer to provide the cylinder 44 with an internal shoulder 53 which will limit the downward movement of the pistonin case of breakage of the spring. Under suchcircumstances, it will be seen that in case the spring should break, the piston will simply move downwardly on to the shoulder 53, and.

at that time, the valve 48wi'll remain seated on the piston 45.

When the spring 47 is not functioning, the nut 51 must be raised on the stem 50 to permit the piston 45 to engage the shoulder 53 without allowing the nut 51 to contact with the plug 19, for otherwise, the valve 48 would always be disengaged fromitsseat before the piston comes to rest on the shoulder 58.

Ports 55, place the passageway 17 in con:

stant communication with the interior of the packing members 21, and when theswab is travelling upwardly, the liquid in the pas- 2. .111 a swab, a tubular stem, a

V sageway will exert pressure through these ports to cau'set'he walls-25 0f the packing member'sto snugly engage the inner surface of the tubing, casin-g or'well, and thusjfprd vide a tiglitj -i t In"operation, assuming that the-swab is teing'lqwered in the well, the well fluid will flow or be displaced through the swab as well as around the same. Some of the fluid will pass through the port "18, cylinder 44a, port 49, passageway 17, and'ports 20," while an-- other portion of the fluid eXteriorly of the swab, will pass between the packing members 21 and the wall of the well, tubing o-rcasing.

On the other hand, when the swab is lifted, 1." 4 1 the well fluid above the same will be prevented from travellingfpastlthe swab, due to the fact that the'packing members 21 will'be ex 'panded into engagement with the wallet the vwell by fluid entering through the ports 55,?

and the fluid cannot flow "downwardly throughthe passageway 17, as the lowerend I of such passageway will be closed by the'valve 48. However, if the weightof the fluid above the swab is sulficient, the valve 48, a s'wellas' thepiston 45, will descend and compress the spring 47, and as soon as the nutbl impinges 7 againstthe plug 19, the valve will be halted while the piston '45 will continue to'descend. Thus, communication between the passageway 17 and the ports 49 and 18will be'estab' lislied, and the swab will be unloaded.

Y Obviously, when the swab is ascending' or" descending, thepacking. membersq21 will be protected by the caps '27, 27a, andt'he leaf protectors 31.

From the foregoing-it is believed that the construction, operation and advantagesof the inventioh may be readily understood, and I V y amfaware that changes may be made inthe details disclosed, without departing from the spiritof the invention, as expressedfinrthe claims.

What I claimand desire to'secure by Let-1 tersPatent is: r i

'1. In a swabyastem, ahollow ball-like elasfall relatively-to the stem.

like thin-walled packing member mounted on the tem and adapted to contract during the descent of the swab. means fixedly securing one end of said member to the stem, the oppositeend of said member being free to rise and fall on the stem. c l 3. In a swab, a tubular stem, a hollow ball like packing member surrounding the stem andhavingits lower'end fixedly secured to the stem, the upperend of said member emhollow jleailn lie I lee bracing the stem and adapted to move upball-like hollow elastiopacking member-sur rounding the stem and having one of its ends fixedly connected to the latter, said packing member having a substantially spherical in ner surface spaced from said'stem, the opposite end of said member having its wall tapering toward the edge of the same, the last mentioned end of the packing member being adapted to move upwardly and downwardly on the stem.

5. A swab including a hollow stem and a ball-like hollow packing member surrounding the stem and having one of its ends fixedly connected to the latter, said packing member having a substantially spherical inner surface spaced from said stem, the opposite end of said member having its wall tapering toward the edge of the same, the last mentioned end of the packing member being adapted to move upwardly and downwardly on the stem, and a cap slidably mounted on the stem and engaging the packing member.

6. A swab including a. hollow stem, and a ball-like hollow packing member surrounding the stem and having one of its ends fixedly connected to the latter, the opposite end of said member having its wall tapering toward the edge of the same, the last mentioned end of the packing member being adapted to move upwardly .and downwardly on the stem, a cap slidably mounted on the stem, and a projecting portion on the packing member engaging said cap.

7. A swab including a hollowstem, and a ball-like hollow packing'member surrounding the stem and having one of its ends fixed- 1y connected to the latter, the opposite end of said member having its wall tapering toward the edge of the same, the last mentioned end of the packing member being adapted to move upwardly and downwardly on the stem, and ports placing the interior of the stem in communication with the interior of the packing member.

8. In a swab, a hollow stem, a ball-like hollow packing member surrounding the stem and having its lower end fixedly secured to the stem, the upper end of the packing member embracing the stem and being adapted to move upwardly and downwardly on the same, the upper end portion of the packing member being provided with a projection, and a cap slidably mounted on the stem and engaging said projection. Y

9. In a swab, a stem, a hollow packing member mounted on the stem, and protecting leaves hingedly mounted on the stemand bearing against said packing member.

10. In a swab, a stem, a hollow packing member mounted on the stem, and a series of rigid protecting leaves hingedly mounted on the stem and bearing against the outer surface of the packing member.

11. In a swab, a stem, a hollow packing member mounted on the stem, a notched cage mounted on the stem, and protecting leaves having necks engaging the notches of the cage, said leaves bearing against the outer surface of the packing member.

12. In a swab, a stem, a ball-like packing member surrounding the stem and mounted on the latter, a cage mounted on the stem and provided with a notched flange, protecting leaves engaging the outer surface of the packing member, each leaf having oppositely disposed notches to receive saidflange, and a neck to engage one of the notches of the flange.

13. A swab as claimed in claim 12, including means associated with said cage for adjustably forcing the upper ends of the leaves toward the axis of the stem.

14. A swab as claimed in claim 12, including a collar having threaded engagement with said cage, and engaging said leaves for adjustably forcing the upper ends of the leaves toward the axis of the stem.

15. In a swab, a stem, a hollow ball-like elastic packing member having its ends embracing the stem, a protecting cap slidably mounted on the stem and engaging one end of said packing member, and rigid adjustable leaf protectors mounted on the stem and embracing the opposite end of the packing member. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' STEPHEN V. DILLON. 

